Chronology

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Aboard the starshipUSS Shenzhou, LieutenantMichael Burnham, a Human woman raised and educated among Vulcans, is promoted to acting first officer. But if she wants to keep the job, she must prove to CaptainPhilippa Georgiou that she deserves to have it. She gets her chance when the Shenzhou must protect a Federationcolony that is under attack by an ancient alien vessel that has surfaced from the deepest fathoms of the planet's dark, uncharted sea. As the menace from this mysterious vessel grows stronger, Starfleet declares the colony expendable in the name of halting the threat. To save thousands of innocent lives, Burnham must infiltrate the alien ship. But to do so she needs to face the truth of her troubled past, and seek the aid of a man she has tried to avoid her entire life—until now.

With the Shenzhou's first and second officers being promoted to another ship, Lieutenant Michael Burnham is made acting first officer ahead of science officer Saru, who will serve as acting second officer. It is up to Captain Georgiou whether or not she will retain the position.

The Shenzhou then receives a distress call from the colony on Sirsa III: Drilling operations have disturbed an ancient alien spaceship, dubbed the Juggernaut, which has despatched probes to attack the colony. The Shenzhou hurries to assist them but Starfleet sends the Enterprise with orders to destroy the Juggernaut, even though doing so will destroy the colony.

Burnham proposes she and Spock enter the Juggernaut to try and find a way of disabling it. Meanwhile, Saru discovers that the colony leaders hid evidence of an extinct civilisation that once inhabited the planet: They will face charges if everyone survives. Burnham and Spock pass a number of challenges, at one point having to mind meld in order to remain in contact during one test. The Juggernaut's computer announces that by passing the test they have proved themselves worthy to join the long-extinct Turanian Dynasty: Those who refuse the offer or fail the tests are wiped out, as the planet's original inhabitants were. Burnham accepts the offer but the Juggernaut continues to attack the Enterprise and Shenzhou, deeming them aggressors. The two ships manage to damage the Juggernaut enough for Spock and Burnham to overload their phasers by key systems, disabling it.

The colony will be evacuated pending an archaeological examination although some may be allowed to return later. Georgiou confirms Burnham as first officer with a promotion to lieutenant commander.

David Mack has written about the novel's relationship to the production of Star Trek Discovery, saying of the Shenzhou's characters:

"Most of them I developed on my own, along with detailed character bios, backstories, quirks, interests, etc. Those were then submitted to the show via Kirsten Beyer for approval. Some, such as Gant, Detmer, and Jannuzzi [sic], ended up being used on the show. (A few, like Connor and Britch Weeton, were established by the show's writers.) Also, Kirsten tells me that the Shenzhou bridge crew actors were given my bios of their characters to provide a foundation for their performances." [1]